Variable-speed gear.



H. E. WILLIAMS.

1 VARIABLE SPEED GEAR. APPLICATION FILED JAN.27, 190s.

Patented July 20, 1909.

H. E, WILLIAMS.

VARIABLE SPEED GEAR.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN.27, 1908.

928,486, Patented July20, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. H. WILLIAMS.

' VARIABLE SPEED GEAR.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 27.1908,

m 4 Z M z fi I 6 W 4 WWW HERBERT EDWARD WILLIAMS, OF PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND.

VARIABLE-SPEED GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1909.

Application filed January 27, 1908. Serial N 0. 412,867.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HERBERT EDWARD IVILLIAMS, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and resident of Burling House, Monmouth Road, North End, Portsmouth, county of Hants, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Variable-Speed Gear, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to variable speed gear, such for example as is required in mofor vehicles.

My invention operates to vary the-radial distance between a pin and the axis about which it is caused .to move in a circle, and the main ditliculty which I endeavor to surmount is that of producing this variation at a moment when the pin is actually moving in its orbit.

My invention consists in principle I in mounting the pin parallel to the axis of revolution, in such a manner that it may slide radially to and from the axis. The pin is connected to the strap of an eccentric (or by a connecting rod to a crank, or to a cam) whose axis of revolution is in the same straight line as that of the pin. Normally the pin and the eccentric revolve together and have a fixed relation to each other; but if the eccentric be moved relativel pin, the pin will be moved to or rom the axis of revolution and its orbit will consequently be diminished or enlarged, although its angular velocity will remain constant.

In carry ng my invention into effect I mount the eccentric upon one end of a shaft,

a portion of the opposite end of which is smaller in diameter and has a screw thread cut upon it. {This shaft is surrounded by. a hollow second shaft which carries a wheel disk or crank which bears projecting from its face parallel to'the axis of revolution the pin whose position is to be varied. Thepin is carried on a slide which moves in guides across the face of the Wheel or disk, and this slide is connected to the strap of the eccentric which lies close to the slide. The pin is connected to the part to which a variable speed is to be imparted, in any suitable manner (as by actu'atin' a pawl and ratchet wheel). The hollow shaIt and consequently the wheel which carries the pin is the part which is driven at a regular speed. Therelati've rotation of the two shafts is produced in the following way. That part of the hollow shaft. which incloses the diminished and velocity, since the longitudinal .to the threaded portion of the eccentric-bearing shaft has longitudinal slots cut in it, and a nut with an interior thread passes over the threaded portion'of the eccentric-bearing v shaft and is provided with wings which pass through the slots in the hollow shaft, so that if the nut be pushed along it cannot rotate but causes the interior shaft to rotate relatively to the hollow shaft, and the eccentric (or crank and connecting rod) causes the .pin to move in or out from the center. Nor

mally the eccentric-bearing shaft and the hollow shaft rotate at the same angular osition .of the nut is fixed, and the two sha ts are consequently locked together.

I will now describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it being clearly understood that the nature of my invention is not limited to the particula 1."

apparatus shown, but comprises any. analo-v gous way of carrying the principle into effect.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a gear system constructed to work according to my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation looking from the right. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the wheel carrying the slide and pin, looking from the right. Fig. 4 is a plan view partly in section of the same. Flg', '5, is a view in outline of the preferred form of nut-moving wheel of the adjusting means or contrivance for varying'the relatlve motion of the shaft. Fig. 5 is a broken vertical section of said nut moving wheel. Fig. 6,"

is a face view of one of the ring members arranged in connection with said nut moving or manipulating wheel. Figs. 6 and 6 are vertical sections of said ring members. Fig.

is an edge view of one of said ring members. Fig. 7, isa face view of the' nut inclosing casing. Figs. 7 and "1' are vertical sections of the diliiplicate members or halves i'g. 7 is an edgeview of of said casing. H one of said casing members or halves. Fig.

8, is a face view ofthe adjusting nut. Fig.

8 isan edge view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a transversesection thereof, and Fig. 9,1s a detailed vertical section, disclosin more especially the eccentric, strap'and ha 1 hearmg connection between one of the shafts and the slide bearing a crank pin and the motion transmitting pin later'more fully'described. Referring now to Fi s. 1, 2, 3 and 4:--A

is a hollow shaft revolvlng freely in hearingsv in the casing X. '-Two wheels- A. and A The extremity are mounted fast on itand by means of eitherone of these wheels which may be spur or belt driven regular rotation is imparted to ,the shaft A. The wheel A has guides 'A bolted to its face and sliding in these uides is a plate A. Near one end of the ate is a connecting pin A by means of which it is moved in the guides in the manner to be described presently. From the face of the plate A projects the crank pin B and it is the position of the plate A in the guides and consequently the distance of the crank pin B from the axis of rotation that determines the speed to be ultimately produced. Inside the hollow shaft A is the shaft C with an eccentric G mounted upon it. This eccentricis embraced b the strap 0 built up of two halves bolted together (only one of the halves is shown in 1), a race of balls 0 being provided to minimize friction. of the strap embraces lthe connecting pin A. It will be seen that the rotation of the shaft G relatively to the shaft A will roduce a variation in the position ofthe sli e A and consequently of the crank pin B. That end of the shaft C which is opposite to the eccentric C is reduced and has i a thread C cut upon it (preferablyat an angle of 45), and farther on at the end of the shaft is another thread C. The hollow shaftA is slotted longitudinally at the portion coverin the thread C Fittin over the thread vided with an internal thread D and with semi-circular slots 1) to take over the segments of the shaft A left by cutting the longitudinal slots, the portions D projecting between these longitudinal slots at right angles thereto. A rib D extends around the. peri hery of the nut. It is clear that if the nut e pushed along the two shafts it will be unable to rotate relatively .to the hollow I shaft A, but the shaft C w1ll be forced to rotate. I will next describe, with reference to Figs. 1 and 5, the means employed to thrust the nut along the shafts.

Mounted on the casing X are four brackets Y which are continued and united to form a tubular extension Z on which is out a thread. The'tubular extension is slotted longitudinall in much the same way as the hollow sha A. The nut D is inclosed in a casing Ebuilt up of two parts united together by stead -pins E' and rovided with extensions 2 w ich project 't rough the lon itudinal slots in the tubular extension Z. T e nut D when carried around by the shaft A can revolve freely in this casing. .The extensions E where they project throu hthe slots in the extension Z are held loose y between the rings F which are screwed into the outer wheel G from opposite sides by means of threads cut on' their outer surfacesand by means of the threads on their inner surfaces order to prevent strap B 8 is a nut D (,see Fig. 5 pro though the speed imparted to the they are screwed on to the :extension Z. This arrangement ofthe rings F and the wheel G is for convenience in assembling and when in use they are to all intents and purposes one piece. G the nut D may be thrust backward and forward on the shafts. In the drawings the wheel G is shown provided with both spur and bevel teeth, but any suitablemeans of operation may be employed. The shaft C and the shaft A aretightened up together by means of a nut R. and a ball race H.

.I will now'describe the method of transmitting motion from the crank pin B. Around this pin is a collar B provided with a race of balls I) and surrounded by a strap Byturning the wheel B formed of two parts held together by a bolt B The extremities of the tparts B are attached by means of a pin B to a crank B, having'suitable connection with the spur wheel K which tends to' turn it always in one direction, the extent of each step being determined by the extent of the orbit of motion of the crank pin B. a In the motion ultimately obtained from having a too-markedly step-bystep character similar wheels K, K K are provided which are driven by connecting rods attached'to' a ring K bolted to the The spur wheels K, K K'-', K gear with teeth on a tube L which revolves freely in the casin X and on the shaft A, andffaston this tu e, but capable of sliding longitudinally thereon is a dog-clutch M.

tube L and gear with the bevel wheel 0 fast P. Thus the speed of the shaft on the shaft P may be varied by revolving the wheel G,

shaft A remains constant; the extent of the orbit of the crank pin B being changed though its an ular velocity may remain constant.

aving now described my invention, what I claim as new. and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is i 1. A variable speed ear comprising concentric shafts, means or imparting motion to one of said shafts, a slide applied to one of said shafts andprovided wlth a crank and the motion transmitting pin, an eccen tional crank member, means ofv connection trio and strap connection between said crank i member and one of "said shafts and means between said pin and said additional crank member, and means for effecting the relative v adjustment between said shafts.

3. A variable speed gear comprising a. tubular shaft, means for actuating it, a second 'shaft arranged within the aforesaid shaft, a slide having a connecting pm and a crank pin, and carried by one of said shafts, an eccentric carried by the other of said shafts and having strap connection with said crank pin, an additional crank, means of connection between the first noted v pin and said additional crank, and means for effecting the tween said shafts. V

4. A variable speed ear comprising concentric shafts, means or actuating one of relative adjustment besaid, shafts, a slide. applied to\one of said shafts and provided with a crank and the motion transmitting pin, an eccentric and strap connection 'between said crank memher and one of said shafts, a screw threaded wheel and its correspondingly threaded support, and a nut arranged upon one of sa1d shafts and controlled by the action of said wheel. 5. A variable speed ear comprising concentric shafts, means. or actuating 'one.of said shafts, a slide applied to one of said shafts and provided with a crank and the a motion transmitting pin, one of said shafts having slots, an eccentric and strap connection between said crank member and one of said shafts, a nut threaded upon one of said shafts, a two-part housing or casing forsaid nut, adapted to permit said nut turning freely therein and having" opposed extensions received by the slots in one of said shafts and in a separate support therefor, and a manually actuated 'wheel threaded 7 upon said support and having screw threaded connection with said wheel.

6. A variable speed ear comprising concentric shafts, means for actuating one of said shafts, a slide applied to one of said shafts and provided with a crank and the motion transmitting pin, an eccentric and strap connection between said crank member lar or hearing interposed, between said latter nut and theother of said shafts.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERBERT. EDWARD WILLIAMS. WVitnesses:

H.PEAOH, A. J. WHETTEM.! 

